Srinagar: Security forces and the Jammu and Kashmir Police have sealed and secured key locations of the Amarnath Yatra route nearly three weeks in advance, a significant change from previous years.
The move comes in the post the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, prompting heightened alert across the region.
The annual pilgrimage, which will run from 3 July to 9 August this year, has been shortened to 38 days, down from 52 in 2024, amid tighter security arrangements.
Officials reportedly stated that the Yatri Niwas, base camps and access points were fortified well ahead of the pilgrimage schedule, indicating the scale of precautionary measures being undertaken.
To ensure the safety of pilgrims, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sanctioned 581 companies of paramilitary forces, the highest deployment to date.
This includes personnel from various Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), significantly higher than the 510 units deployed last year.
Over the weekend, top officials of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), including Director General GP Singh, conducted a thorough review of the arrangements. A high-level meeting was held in Srinagar, followed by visits to the cave shrine, base camps, and other sensitive points along the route.
The CRPF continues to serve as the nodal agency for overall security coordination.
In Jammu, security has also been stepped up at the Bhagwati Nagar base camp, the starting point of the journey towards the Kashmir Valley.
Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Nalin Prabhat visited the location last week to oversee final preparations. The first batch of pilgrims is expected to depart from this camp on 2 July.
Meanwhile, the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board has declared the entire Yatra route, via both Pahalgam and Baltal axes, a ‘No Flying Zone’ from 1 July to 10 August.
According to a government order, chopper services for pilgrims will remain suspended throughout this period, as an added security precaution.
